I've been asked per Email about the Wikipedia entry for Lowlands of Holland stating the following without giving any source: "A lesser known version of the song, originating from Suffolk and probably a local adaptation, dates to the era of the Seven Years' War, fought in the Low Countries and Prussia/Silesia in the mid-eighteenth century. In this version the singer's love who is leaving is a soldier rather than a sailor; and one of the verses refers to his participation in the Battle of Minden in 1759. At this battle various British regiments advanced to meet the enemy. It is said that as they echeloned forward, the soldiers plucked wild roses from the hedgerows, and wore them in their hats, as the flowers reminded them of home. The relevant verse of the song runs: My love across the ocean Wears a scarlet coat so fair, With a musket at his shoulder And roses in his hair." Does anyone knows about this version of Lowlands of Holland from Suffolk? I searched the Roud Index for Roud 484 and England but all 130 results seem to be from places not in Suffolk (but maybe I have overlooked something?) John Smith sings this version of Lowlands of Holland on his 2018 album Hummingbird. The album's booklet has the verses but gives no source or other background information. A 2016 blog article from Patrick Comerford says essentially the same as Wikipedia; I do not know which of them quoted the other.
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